Daily Bible Reading Friday 22nd March 2024
by William Moody
Luke 22:39–46
Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives
39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.1 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”
Footnotes
[1] 22:44
Some manuscripts omit verses 43 and 44 (ESV)
Today as we approach Easter, we move to begin considering something of the Easter story. Jesus is in Gethsemane and was aware that very challenging times were ahead so He prays and He encourages His disciples to pray (v39-41). As we prepare to face the future there is nothing more important than praying. We will be much stronger and more Christ like the more we pray.
Jesus in His human nature did not want to suffer unnecessarily, so He prays that if there is another way for the cup of suffering to be taken away (v42). He prays though with the words, “yet not my will, but yours be done.” Like Jesus, we must always trust in God’s will being the best way. Jesus’ humanity is seen in how He needed to be strengthened by an angel (v43). Jesus was in every way tested as we are, yet without sin.
To Jesus is revealed something of the terrible ordeal that was ahead, and even this revelation caused amazing anguish so that He sweat drops of blood (v44). Jesus’ time of prayer powerfully equipped Him for what was ahead. The disciples could not keep up with His passion in this (v45-46). Pray for a greater passion for and in prayer
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